Appliance for correcting bunions



Aug. 29, 1939.. H. J. STRICKLAND APPLIANCE'FOR CORRECTING BUNIONS Filed Nov. 29, 1937 Even/'01". WWW

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bunion corrective appliances, and has for its general object to provide a mechanical instrumentality, simple in construction, comfortable to Wear, and eflicacious in operation, for applying pressure to the great toe to bring the phalanges into, and maintain them in, proper anatomical relation to the first metatarsal, without creating any undue or distressing pressure to the internal aspect of the first metatarso-phalangeal articulation.

It is a fact of general knowledge that in cases of halluX valgus and bunion, curative treatment usually demands. a mechanical restoration of the great toe from its outwardly-misplaced position, but with a minimal irritation to the usuallyswollen and highly sensitive tissues contiguous to the internal aspect of the great toe joint. These desiderata I attain by means hereinafter described and claimed, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a cutaway of shoe showing the completely assembled appliance in position; Figure 2 is a plan view of the upright pressure plane I mounted on toe plate 2; Figure 3 is a side view of the upright pressure plane I unassembled, showing the extended slot for the wearers sock to fit between the great and first toes; Figure 4 is a plan view of the plate 2 unassembled; Figure 5 is a cutaway of shoe in cross section exposing the appliance in relation to the wearers toes; Figure 6 is a vertical cross section of the appliance, I, 2, and 3, completely assembled; Figure 7 is a side view indicating means of attachment and adjustment of pressure plane I to plate 2, by means of screws 3 and 3.

My improved appliance comprises a slotted upright pressure plane, made concave to conform to the round of the great toe, the slot to receive the portion of the wearers sock lying between the great and first toes, the plane mounted on a thin plate (preferably metal) adapted for easy adjustment by allowing screw mountings attached to the base of the aforementioned upright plane to move along transverse slots in the plate. The device which may be worn in the shoe at all times is secured in the toe of the footwear by pointed prongs or spikes on the under side of the plate which imbed in the insole on applying weight to the ball and toe area of the foot under which the appliance is worn. The spikes, while holding the Corrector securely in position, do not, however, prevent easy removal for adjustment of more or less pressure.

An outstanding embodiment of my invention is the slot in the upright pressure plane projection which receives the wearers sock between the great and first toes, eliminating the necessity of sock alterations, this feature adding materially to the comfort of the device, but in no way interfering with the accomplishment of its purpose I also wish to point out that the toe plate used in this connection might be extended to allow for application of support to both the transverse and longitudinal plantar arches of the foot if such is found to be additionally remedial to particular cases.

It is understood that while I have described in considerable detail specific embodiments of my invention for purposes of disclosure thereof, such details are not vital to the embodiment of my invention in its broader aspects and that many changes may be made in the specific construction without departure from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device comprising a base plate shaped to fit in the toe of a shoe, said plate having transverse slots; an elongated upright adjustably guided by said slots, said upright having a slot parallel to said base plate and extending longitudinally of said upright and opening at the rear of said upright.

2. A device as of claim 1 in which said upright is a plate adapted to bear against the inside of the great toe.

3. A device as of claim 1 in which said base plate has downwardly extending spikes for removably securing said base plate to a shoe insole.

H. J. STRICKLAND. 

